Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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1591275   Sergeant John E C A Steele-Nicholson
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 19/03/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (British Air Force)
Died: 14/09/1942 (Died by accident)
Age: 20
Summary      
John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson was the son of Robert Charles Henry and Lydia Mary Noel Amelia Steele-Nicholson. He was born about 1922. Sergeant John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two. On 14th September 1942, Sergeant (Air Gunner) John Steele-Nicholson was on board Liberator AL-624 when it took off from R.A.F. Burn at 1100 hours. It was detailed to carry out a non-operational cross-country training flight. It failed to return. The aircraft descended through cloud and struck a hill near Millfore in Kirkcudbright. All of the crew were killed in the accident.
Further Information
John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson was the son of Robert Charles Henry and Lydia Mary Noel Amelia Steele-Nicholson. They were married about 1920.
John Steele-Nicholson was born about 1922.
It has been stated that his father, Robert Steele-Nicholson, was a tea planter in Assam, which is a state in north-eastern India.
Sergeant John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in World War Two.
Liberator aircraft
On 14th September 1942, Sergeant (Air Gunner) John Steele-Nicholson was on board Liberator AL-624 when it took off from R.A.F. Burn at 1100 hours. It was detailed to carry out a non-operational cross-country training flight. It failed to return. The aircraft descended through cloud and struck a hill near Millfore in Kirkcudbright, near Cairnryan in Scotland. All of the crew were killed in the accident. They were:
bullet Pilot Officer Ivan Harold BETTS (109064) Pilot
bullet Sergeant Geoffrey Crisp (Geoff) BOAR (1310500) Wireless Operator
bullet Sergeant James BOWREY (1174321) Air Gunner
bullet Sergeant George Douglas CALDER (401366)
bullet Sergeant John Churley FREESTONE (1311904) Observer
bullet Sergeant John Edwin Charles Averell STEELE-NICHOLSON (1591275) Air Gunner
bullet Sergeant Victor Frederick TALLEY (1320265) Air Gunner
bullet Sergeant Derek Eaton WARNER (655996) Pilot
Sergeant John Steele-Nicholson is buried in Kirkinner Cemetery. His inscription reads: OF BALLOW, BANGOR, N.IRELAND AND THIS IS THE PROMISE THAT HE HATH PROMISED US, EVEN ETERNAL LIFE
Sergeant John Steele-Nicholson is buried in Kirkinner Cemetery
Sergeant John Steele-Nicholson is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and Moy War Memorial.
The CWGC record Sergeant John Edwin Charles Averell Steele-Nicholson as the son of Robert Charles Henry and Lydia Mary Noel Amelia Steele-Nicholson of Ballow, Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland.
At this time it is not known what his connection was with Moy.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Moy War Memorial Moy On Moy War Memorial 54.44498 -6.690635
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 Forum (WW2 Talk) Details of crew and loss
2 Google Map of crash area Millfore in Kirkcudbright
3 International Bomber Command Details of crew and loss
4 RAF Commands - AL624 Details of crew and loss
5 Scottish War Graves forum Photo of Sergeant Steele-Nicholson's gravestone
6 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Sergeant Steele-Nicholson's gravestone can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023